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Manila Diaries

. Sunday 27 May 2018 .



To say this month has been an absolute whirlwind is an understatement. Mum and I travelled to Manila for a family emergency and it's truly been one of the most stressful times. The whole of April was spent preparing for it - organising passports because we didn't have current ones, sorting out flights and accommodation because we don't really have a family home in the Philippines anymore or immediate family we can stay with, booking flights, working after hours and weekends because I don't have any leave left at work and being an adult with financial obligations mean that I can't afford unpaid time off. And because when it rains, it truly pours, it's been a very hectic period at work too. I had four major campaigns on the go, an event to organise, and basically shit to get done.




This weekend is the first weekend I've had to relax in over a month. Last weekend was basically a write off - worse jetlag I've ever experienced. We arrived back in New Zealand and within a few hours I was in the office because the hustle never stops.



It was a bit strange to be back. Surreal for the most part. It's been nine years since we moved to New Zealand from the Philippines, a country my dad and most of mum's family have called home for years. I moved here 2 days before my 18th birthday and have spent all of my adult years here. New Zealand is my home and has felt more home to me than Manila, if I'm honest. I was excited to go back, although I wished we were heading back under better circumstances. But still.





Up until the time we were boarding, I still couldn't believe we were actually going! Like I said, I've spent the past month in a daze - a blur of working, organising everything for the trip, and dealing with all the other crap. In fact, I was in the office until just after 4 pm because I had a presentation that morning and I really wanted to see that work through. I haven't even packed and our flight was that evening! So it all hit me as I buckled up on the plane. I started to get even more excited knowing that in 10 hours, I'd be seeing friends and family and eating all the delicious food I've missed.




It was a lot hotter than I expected. Like so hot it literally felt like hell on earth. And you know how much I despise summer, even more so when it's autumn in New Zealand and I was only just starting not to sweat so much and wear nice clothes again! But I was prepared - I packed linen shirts and brought no jackets.




We had a very tight schedule - 9 years worth of catching up squeezed into 10 days. Our days were spent running endless errands, hospital trips, and being stuck in traffic. There was a lovely pool on the 32nd floor of our hotel that I had been looking forward to using and I had a grand total of 15 minutes in it throughout the whole trip. Some of the food from my childhood that I was really looking forward to eating again wasn't as good as I remembered, and I was shocked at how much my palate has changed. Even though going into it I knew the trip wasn't going to be a holiday, goddamnit was it really not a holiday.






Nevertheless, it was still lovely to see family and friends. We caught up with so many people, it still amazes me how much we were able to squeeze in in such a short amount of time! We ate some damn great food, and I loved being able to eat rice meals for breakfast. I caught up with my best friends from High School, the truest friends in the world. It was so nice to see nothing has changed since. We even managed a few hours of shopping. My nana flew in to see me and we had sleepovers in the hotel with some family and friends.




My childhood best friend, Aldrin, was the one who picked us up from the airport and we spent a lot of time together. I haven't seen him for over 10 years and he's now a professional hair and make-up artist and I've been dreaming about working with him for years! We spent a day doing hair and make-up and it was so nice to go-live and collaborate on something.




Coming back home to New Zealand, my heart was full and my body was exhausted. I was so drained not just from the trip, from the heat, from all the stress of the trip but from the month before we left. I desperately need a holiday after that trip and hanging out for the long weekend ahead. There's no shame in admitting when you're not okay, when you need a break, and fill up your cup again. Until then I'm trying to get back into my routines, go to bed early and get the full amount of recommended sleep, eat regularly, and just be really kind to myself.




It's working so far. I've been cooking this weekend - something I've really missed doing. I made some turmeric milk too, and caught-up with more articles I was meant to be writing (I wrote this piece on how to beat the winter blues last week). I lit a new candle last night, one that was kindly gifted to me while I was away. I have new products to try that's arrived just after I came back too! I spent the day reading in bed too and caught up with some e-mails. I can't help it!




Right now I can smell the slow-cooked ribs I put on the crockpot. And while I'm dreaming of Friday afternoon when I finally get a proper break, I'm enjoying being back in the present. Hope you had a lovely Sunday, friends. Look after yourselves x




P.S. how pretty is Manila, though? Best enjoyed inside a hotel room with aircon blasting... Lol! But seriously. I couldn't get enough of the trees and skyscrapers in Makati, and already missing the views from our hotel home away from home.



To say this month has been an absolute whirlwind is an understatement. Mum and I travelled to Manila for a family emergency and it's truly been one of the most stressful times. The whole of April was spent preparing for it - organising passports because we didn't have current ones, sorting out flights and accommodation because we don't really have a family home in the Philippines anymore or immediate family we can stay with, booking flights, working after hours and weekends because I don't have any leave left at work and being an adult with financial obligations mean that I can't afford unpaid time off. And because when it rains, it truly pours, it's been a very hectic period at work too. I had four major campaigns on the go, an event to organise, and basically shit to get done.




This weekend is the first weekend I've had to relax in over a month. Last weekend was basically a write off - worse jetlag I've ever experienced. We arrived back in New Zealand and within a few hours I was in the office because the hustle never stops.



It was a bit strange to be back. Surreal for the most part. It's been nine years since we moved to New Zealand from the Philippines, a country my dad and most of mum's family have called home for years. I moved here 2 days before my 18th birthday and have spent all of my adult years here. New Zealand is my home and has felt more home to me than Manila, if I'm honest. I was excited to go back, although I wished we were heading back under better circumstances. But still.





Up until the time we were boarding, I still couldn't believe we were actually going! Like I said, I've spent the past month in a daze - a blur of working, organising everything for the trip, and dealing with all the other crap. In fact, I was in the office until just after 4 pm because I had a presentation that morning and I really wanted to see that work through. I haven't even packed and our flight was that evening! So it all hit me as I buckled up on the plane. I started to get even more excited knowing that in 10 hours, I'd be seeing friends and family and eating all the delicious food I've missed.




It was a lot hotter than I expected. Like so hot it literally felt like hell on earth. And you know how much I despise summer, even more so when it's autumn in New Zealand and I was only just starting not to sweat so much and wear nice clothes again! But I was prepared - I packed linen shirts and brought no jackets.




We had a very tight schedule - 9 years worth of catching up squeezed into 10 days. Our days were spent running endless errands, hospital trips, and being stuck in traffic. There was a lovely pool on the 32nd floor of our hotel that I had been looking forward to using and I had a grand total of 15 minutes in it throughout the whole trip. Some of the food from my childhood that I was really looking forward to eating again wasn't as good as I remembered, and I was shocked at how much my palate has changed. Even though going into it I knew the trip wasn't going to be a holiday, goddamnit was it really not a holiday.






Nevertheless, it was still lovely to see family and friends. We caught up with so many people, it still amazes me how much we were able to squeeze in in such a short amount of time! We ate some damn great food, and I loved being able to eat rice meals for breakfast. I caught up with my best friends from High School, the truest friends in the world. It was so nice to see nothing has changed since. We even managed a few hours of shopping. My nana flew in to see me and we had sleepovers in the hotel with some family and friends.




My childhood best friend, Aldrin, was the one who picked us up from the airport and we spent a lot of time together. I haven't seen him for over 10 years and he's now a professional hair and make-up artist and I've been dreaming about working with him for years! We spent a day doing hair and make-up and it was so nice to go-live and collaborate on something.




Coming back home to New Zealand, my heart was full and my body was exhausted. I was so drained not just from the trip, from the heat, from all the stress of the trip but from the month before we left. I desperately need a holiday after that trip and hanging out for the long weekend ahead. There's no shame in admitting when you're not okay, when you need a break, and fill up your cup again. Until then I'm trying to get back into my routines, go to bed early and get the full amount of recommended sleep, eat regularly, and just be really kind to myself.




It's working so far. I've been cooking this weekend - something I've really missed doing. I made some turmeric milk too, and caught-up with more articles I was meant to be writing (I wrote this piece on how to beat the winter blues last week). I lit a new candle last night, one that was kindly gifted to me while I was away. I have new products to try that's arrived just after I came back too! I spent the day reading in bed too and caught up with some e-mails. I can't help it!




Right now I can smell the slow-cooked ribs I put on the crockpot. And while I'm dreaming of Friday afternoon when I finally get a proper break, I'm enjoying being back in the present. Hope you had a lovely Sunday, friends. Look after yourselves x




P.S. how pretty is Manila, though? Best enjoyed inside a hotel room with aircon blasting... Lol! But seriously. I couldn't get enough of the trees and skyscrapers in Makati, and already missing the views from our hotel home away from home.

1 comment

  1. You forgot to put here how you made your bestfriend cry inside the mall. Hahaha best surprise ever! Missing you so much.

    ReplyDelete

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